*(Immediately following the March For Life Opening Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception)

The film tells the story of Fr. Rene Robert, a Catholic priest who was murdered by Steven Murray in April 2016. Twenty years earlier, Fr. Rene wrote what is known as a Declaration of Life — a statement expressing his wish that should he ever die as a result of a violent crime, the death penalty not be imposed on his killer.

The Declaration kept Murray from receiving a death sentence, ultimately saving his life.

“The eve of the March for Life is a natural setting for this story to be told.” said Krisanne Vaillancourt Murphy, Executive Director of CMN. “Fr. Rene’s life sets a powerful example for how we can resist society’s ‘throwaway culture.’ The film encourages Catholics and all people of goodwill to include the death penalty in their pro-life conversations.”

Catholic Mobilizing Network will co-host the screening with the film’s producer, Stella Mar Films, along with Catholic University’s National Catholic School of Social Service and the Law of Life Summit.

“Fr. Rene took part in many marches before he was killed by a man he had been trying to help,” says Cimela Kidonakis, Where There Is Darkness filmmaker and co-founder of Stella Mar Films. “But that didn't stop Fr. Rene's mission; the Declaration of Life he left behind allowed him to continue his ‘march for life’ even after death.”

Tickets are $8.00 and are available for purchase online. Catholic University students with a valid student ID are invited to attend free of charge. To learn more and purchase tickets, please visit catholicsmobilizing.org/darkness

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CMN is a national organization that mobilizes Catholics and all people of goodwill to value life over death, to end the death penalty, to transform the U.S. criminal justice system from punitive to restorative, and to build capacity in U.S. society to engage in restorative practices.

CMN works in close collaboration with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and lives the Spirit of Unity of its sponsor, the Congregation of St. Joseph.

CMN’s Mercy in Action Project seeks to promote clemency for those facing imminent execution. By joining the Mercy in Action Project you will receive monthly alerts with information on upcoming executions and tools to advocate for clemency in those cases as well as prayerful resources. Join us as we save lives on death row! The Mercy in Action Project is being partially supported by a grant from The Consistent Life Network, an international pro-life, pro-peace coalition.